Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandom:

Heated Rivalry (TV)

Relationship:

Kip Grady/Scott Hunter

Characters:

Scott Hunter (Game Changers), Kip Grady

Additional Tags:

Panic Attacks, Coming Out, Meeting the Parents, meeting the friends

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-02-01 Words: 5,481 Chapters: 1/1

Committed to Survive

Summary

Scott felt like his lungs were collapsing. He’d had the wind knocked out of him plenty of times, but tonight there had been no hit, no fall. His heart was pounding and his chest wouldn’t open up to let him get enough air. This had to be a heart attack. He must be dying.

He sank down onto the cold ground, hoping faintly that he’d landed somewhere out of the way. The last thing Scott needed was for Kip to be the one to find his body.

Notes

Title is from Turbulence by P!nk.

Scott felt like his lungs were collapsing. He’d had the wind knocked out of him plenty of times, but tonight there had been no hit, no fall. His heart was pounding and his chest wouldn’t open up to let him get enough air. This had to be a heart attack. He must be dying.

He sank down onto the cold ground, hoping faintly that he’d landed somewhere out of the way. The last thing Scott needed was for Kip to be the one to find his body. Even if he didn't, a dead hockey player outside his favorite bar was bound to make the news and ruin Kip’s birthday. Scott sent a silent apology to him for that.

Shoes came into Scott’s narrow field of vision, and he tipped his head up to see someone holding out a bottle of water.

“Drink that,” the guy said. He squatted in front of Scott.

Scott shook his head mutely. He couldn’t.

The guy opened the bottle for him and held it to his lips. “It’ll help, come on.”

Scott gave in and took a few careful sips. It did actually help. He felt less like his heart was going to explode. He was able to suck in the deep breath he’d been struggling to get.

“Fuck.” Scott took the bottle for another sip, his hand brushing the other man’s.

“You’ll be okay. I’m Kyle, by the way.” The dark-haired man looked at him expectantly, and Scott grimaced.

“Hi, Kyle,” he said instead of offering his name. He got a wry smile in return.

“Don’t worry about it, man. This happens more than you’d think.” Kyle’s eyes were kind, Scott noticed. More details were revealing themselves now that his vision had stopped tunneling.

“What happens?” Scott’s head was still swimming, even though he was finally getting enough oxygen.

“A guy having a panic attack next to a gay bar. You want to try and stand up now?” Kyle held out his hand.

“A panic attack.” Oh. Right. He took Kyle’s hand to hoist himself up.

“Yeah. It happens. You want something to eat or anything?”

Scott shook his head. The water had helped, but his stomach was still a roiling mess.

“I’ve got to get back to work, but if you need anything else, you can just knock on the back door and I’ll hear it, okay?”

“You’re being really nice to me.” The words slipped out before Scott could stop them.

“I’m a nice guy. Feel better, Scott.” Kyle patted Scott’s shoulder and went back inside.

Scott was halfway home before he realized Kyle had used his name. Oh, fuck.

—

Scott paced behind the Kingfisher the next night. He wanted to knock, but what if Kyle wasn’t even working? How could he explain what he was doing banging on the back door of a gay bar at nighttime?

He was saved from his own indecision by the door opening. Kyle emerged with two garbage bags in hand and swung them into the dumpster.

“Kyle, hey.” Scott stepped out of the shadows only to hear Kyle shriek.

“Jesus, you scared me.” Kyle held his hand to his chest, fingers spread.

“Sorry. I’m sorry.” Scott held up his hands in what he hoped was a soothing manner. “I just…” There really wasn’t a good ending to that sentence.

“What do you need, Scott.” Kyle’s face was less gentle today, but to be fair, Scott had been the terrified one yesterday.

“I guess you know who I am because of Kip, right?” Scott asked.

“I bartend at a sports bar, dude,” Kyle responded, and Scott winced. Shit, he was not handling this well.

“No, right, I’m sorry—”

“But yeah, I know who you are because of Kip.” Kyle had the slightest smile on his face. Okay, he was making fun of Scott and that was fine.

“I’d just sort of hoped that maybe you didn’t tell Kip about last night.” Scott held his breath. If Kyle had told Kip already, he didn’t know what he’d do next.

“Usually I get laid before someone says something so sweet to me,” Kyle answered sardonically.

Scott sighed. “I should have started by saying thank you for last night. You really helped.”

“Like I said, it happens. I need to get back inside.”

“I’m sorry if I… offended you? It’s just that Kip is really important to me and I don’t want him to know about how pathetic I was last night, or that I was here at all.” Scott said it all in one rush of air. That was the best he could do.

“I didn’t tell him, and I’m not telling him. Just maybe stay away from here until you’re ready to come inside.” Kyle turned to open the door. “And Kip’s important to me, too. To all of us,” he said over his shoulder.

—

Scott had plenty of time to turn that over in his head as he walked back home. Kip had a whole network of people that Scott barely knew anything about. He’d kept Kip locked inside his apartment like some kind of fairy tale villain, and expected… what? A happy ending?

Scott’s heart jumped when he realized his apartment wasn’t empty. Kip was in his usual spot on the couch when Scott came in. He looked tense and unhappy when he turned his head.

“You’re here.” Scott thanked whatever spirit gave second chances. He’d stopped believing in God long ago, but he could recognize that sometimes the universe did him a solid.

“I thought you would be here.” Kip’s tone was measured, careful.

“I just had an errand.” Scott sat heavily on the other side of the couch. “Hi.”

“Hi. I thought we could talk.” Kip reached a hand toward Scott and he took it gratefully.

“I’m so sorry. I know I owe you so much better than this.”

Kip shook his head slightly. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“I’m trying to say you deserve better. I know this wasn’t fair to you.” He clung to Kip’s hand like a life raft.

“I’m wondering if there’s any version of this that’s fair to both of us.” Kip tugged at Scott’s hand and he inched closer.

“I love you so much, Kip. I want to do right by you.” What he wanted and what was possible seemed impossibly far apart.

“I love you too. I just want to stop lying to everyone. Not everyone in the world, but my family.” Kip tugged again and Scott moved so they were pressed together. He rested his head against Kip, desperately breathing in the scent of him.

“Your dad.” Scott tried to moderate his breaths. The last thing Kip needed was to talk him through another panic attack.

“Him, definitely. He knows something now, but no details. And my close friends. They’ll all be discreet, I promise.” Kip turned his head to kiss Scott. He closed his eyes into it. Every touch felt like a precious gift, one that could be torn away at any time.

Scott moved to rest his head in Kip’s lap. “Tell me about them?” he asked, and let the words wash over him. He’d heard a few stories, about Elena most of all, but Shawn and Maria too.

Kip told him about how it had been just him and his dad for years. His mother turned up now and then around holidays, but hadn’t bothered with a card for Kip’s birthday. Scott kissed Kip’s knee gently at that.

“I did get you a birthday present. Maybe it’s inappropriate now, I don’t know.” Scott got up to pull it from his closet. He was tempted to kneel down in front of Kip to give it to him, but that would be sending a different message entirely. He sat anxiously back on the couch instead, watching Kip unwrap the paper the clerk had carefully fastened around it.

He’d spent over an hour at the store, looking for the exact right watch for Kip. It had needed to be something beautiful, but not so ostentatious that he could never wear it.

Kip opened the box and looked at it for a moment.

“I can return it.” Scott reached his hand out to take the box. He probably couldn’t, and either way he wouldn’t, but Kip didn’t need to know that.

“Stop. Give me a second.” Kip batted Scott’s hand away. “This is really pretty.”

“Like you.” Scott was glad Kip didn’t hate it, at least.

“We probably need to have a money conversation at some point,” Kip said absently, still looking at the watch. “Oh, and I got into grad school.”

“What? That’s incredible. I knew you could do it.” We need to celebrate, he wanted to say next, but he still wasn’t sure… “Are you back? Are we back together?”

Kip looked at him quizzically. “We didn’t break up.”

“I thought… you left. You didn’t want to be here.”

“Oh, Scott.” Kip turned to put his arms around him. “That’s on me. I should have told you I just needed a few days. I don’t want to break up. I never wanted that.”

“But…” Scott found himself wanting to argue that they should break up, for Kip’s sake, even though that was the last thing he wanted. “What if I can’t—”

“Scott. Are you willing to try?” Scott nodded, pressing his head to Kip’s shoulder. Kip tucked his hand into Scott’s hair. “Then we’ll figure out what works for us. Both of us.”

—

The first step was a baby step, Scott knew. Elena knew about them, and had already said her piece about them, so having her over for dinner was barely even anything new. There was no reason for Scott’s heart rate to be so high that his watch suggested he log his workout.

He went into the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. He’d been looking into some tips online to stave off the panic. He was careful not to get his shirt collar wet. He’d already changed from one shirt that was dripping with sweat.

Kip knocked on the bathroom door. “You good?”

“Totally.” Scott took a breath and held it. “Great.”

“The caterer just brought everything. Elena will be here soon. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Kip had suggested they cook together, but Scott had narrowed that down to only dessert, which they’d prepared the day before. He’d anticipated he’d need the entire prep time to talk himself down from whatever this was.

“I’m fine. I’ll be out soon. You can, uh, open that wine if you want. Let it breathe?” The wine could breathe, and Scott could breathe, and everything would be fine.

Scott kissed Elena’s cheek in greeting when she arrived. She accepted that but stepped in to give Kip a big hug.

“Look at all this,” she marveled, looking around. So few people had ever been here. Scott usually rented out a restaurant or other venue when they had team parties, or nudged one of the guys who lived in the suburbs to host. It had pretty much been Scott here, and now Kip.

And now Elena, too, who swept an assessing glance over everything.

“I’ll get you a glass of wine.” Scott escaped into the kitchen, knowing that Kip and Elena would have plenty to say to each other, and he didn’t need to be privy to that.

He checked on the food, which was exactly how it had been since he and Kip had left it to warm. Scott knew how to be charming, he reminded himself. He could put on his public face and that would be fine. He just didn’t want to. He wanted to be himself, whoever that was now.

Scott brought out wine for both Kip and Elena, who had tucked themselves into the sofa.

“Join us, Scott,” Elena said, and Scott held up a finger and went to retrieve his own wine glass. He sat on Kip’s other side, which would make conversation a little awkward, but he really needed the hand that Kip slipped into his own.

“Nice place,” Elena said. “It just needs some photos, you know. Make it a bit more personal.”

“You’re right.” Scott would love that, actually. Some photos of him and Kip together would make things feel more real. “I know some great photographers.”

“Or we can just take some selfies.” Kip smiled and squeezed Scott’s hand. “Or buy some cool art online.” Scott sighed, remembering his art gallery freakout. “I mean…”

“It’s great. We’ll decorate. Make this place yours too, officially.” Scott took a sip of his wine.

“It’s only been a couple of months. It’s cool. Elena, how’s work?” Kip kept his gentle grip on Scott’s hand. He couldn’t escape, but he could let Elena’s words wash over him and make some noises like he was listening.

Dinner tasted good, and no one commented on Scott’s plate being slightly different from the others’. Having to explain his meal plan and workout routine wasn’t something he had to do very often. People with families and friends who weren’t athletes were probably used to it.

Scott refilled everyone’s wine but his own and gathered the plates to wash. He’d have a few minutes to himself. The anxiety was no longer threatening to choke him but was still a steady buzz under his skin.

“Hey, Sunshine.” Elena came up behind him and he was just able to fight his startle response.

“Hey.” He cast his eyes around the apartment. “Where’d Kip go?”

“Officially, he’s in the bathroom. Unofficially, I think he’s kicking me out soon and getting ready to do something sexy for you.”

Scott felt his face heat. He’d endured decades of locker room talk but now he was blushing at Elena knowing anything about his sex life.

“Am I doing any better?” he asked. “Is he still miserable?”

“He thinks you’re doing better. I think you’re trying. We’ll see.” Her cool fingers touched his chin, angling his gaze into her own. “This was really sweet, Scott.”

“You’re always welcome. Kip can have you over anytime.” Especially when Scott wasn’t around. He didn’t say that part, but something knowing in her smile said she’d heard it anyway. She patted Scott’s cheek and stepped back.

“Goodbye, Christopher!” Elena yelled loudly across the space. Scott couldn’t stop himself from jumping that time.

“Jesus, Elena.” Kip came out of the bedroom. He walked her to the door, and Scott turned the water back on so he wouldn’t hear their whispers. He’d just finished the forks when Elena yelled a goodbye to him as well. He stepped into view and gave her a little wave as she walked out.

He allowed himself three more breaths at the sink, which was long enough for Kip to come wrap his arms around him.

“Hey, hot stuff.” Kip kissed the back of Scott’s shoulders and ran his hand down the front of his slacks.

“Are you trying to reward me for having your friend over?” Scott allowed himself to be turned to face Kip.

“Oh, no. This is my reward.” Kip kissed him as he continued to stroke Scott to hardness. He led Scott to the bedroom and began stripping him.

“Good dinner?” Scott asked, getting with the program and helping unbutton Kip’s shirt.

“Not as good as dessert,” Kip teased, and dropped to his knees to take Scott into his mouth.

—

“I wish you could come with me.” Scott was packing his bag for a road trip, again, and he had never hated travel like this before.

“I think they’d notice I didn’t have any hockey gear.” Kip was sprawled on the bed, intent on his laptop.

“Tampa’s nice. Warmer than here.” There was no real point in bargaining. Kip really couldn’t go with him even if he’d been a woman. The week would be full of team bonding, and Kip had plenty to do to prepare for grad school.

“You can get a little tan.” Kip closed his computer and sat up. “Do you think you could get tickets for me to take my dad to your next home game?”

“Yeah, of course.” Scott focused on checking that his socks were in the right place in his bag. “We could do something after. The three of us.”

Kip came over to kiss him. The familiar feel of him in Scott’s arms was reassuring.

“We don’t have to do anything public. Maybe you could meet us at my dad’s place after? Do you think that would be strange?”

“I think that would be great.” He’d have the week to get himself used to the idea, anyway.

“He’s a big fan, actually. He’ll be thrilled.” Kip gave him a squeeze around the middle. Scott led him into another kiss.

“You know, you could tell people too. Is there someone that you trust on the team?” Kip shook his head at the look on Scott’s face. “Never mind, I guess.”

“No, you’re right. I don’t… I guess there is.” Carter Vaughn wouldn’t be terrible. He was cheerfully supportive about just about everything. He definitely wouldn’t say anything to the press, or to the others. Still, the thought of it made Scott’s heart climb up into his throat.

“It’s up to you. There’s no rush.” Kip kissed him again, and Scott was grateful for the subject change. He pulled Kip down on top of him on the bed.

—

Vaughny was Scott’s seatmate on the bus and the plane, as usual. Scott couldn’t keep himself from turning to look at him, any words he might have said frozen in his throat.

Carter only raised his eyebrows at him and bumped their shoulders together. It wasn’t like Scott was going to say anything when they were surrounded by players and staff, anyway.

It wasn’t until they were unpacking at the hotel that Carter finally addressed Scott’s weirdness.

“You good, dude?” His face was painfully earnest.

“Yeah, I… yeah.” Scott shook his head. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.

“You sure?” Carter flopped onto the bed, still facing Scott.

“I’m good. I’m…” he took a deep breath. “I’m seeing someone.”

“Dude! What’s her name?” Carter sat up, grinning.

“His. It’s a he.” Scott studied the carpet at his feet.

“Dude!” Carter didn’t sound unhappy, so Scott risked looking up at him. His smile hadn’t dimmed.

“You can’t tell anybody.” His voice sounded weak to his own ears.

“Duh. Come on, give me details. What’s his name? Is he hot?” Carter was practically bouncing on the bed with excitement. Scott couldn’t help but laugh.

“You don’t care?” It was hard to believe.

“Obviously I care, dude, tell me about him! Show me pictures!”

Scott did have some pictures of the two of them on his phone now. He’d taken Elena’s suggestion to heart and had bought a photo printer and some frames as well.

“Oh, nice, man. Good job,” Carter said approvingly, looking at the photo Scott showed him. “How long have you two been together?”

It felt too easy, telling him about how their relationship had developed. Scott pictured himself telling the whole team about it, but quickly put that thought away. Vaughny was one thing. He was Scott’s closest friend and loved just about everyone he met. Not everyone would be so accepting.

That was confirmed yet again at team dinner when one of Scott’s teammates used particularly vivid language to describe the defenseman he’d dropped gloves at their last game before the road trip. No one else even blinked at that, not even Carter. Scott was the captain. He could have said something. He didn’t.

—

The plane ride from the west coast always felt interminable. Scott only had so much hockey strategy to distract him before he had to acknowledge his next challenge. Meeting Kip’s dad should be fine, Scott told himself. He dealt with men all day every day. Men older than him, with power over him. He knew how to walk the line between confident and cocky to charm men like that. A firm handshake and an expensive watch went a long way.

It was lucky, he reflected, that Kip didn’t have his mom around, and then he berated himself for that awful thought. It was only that Scott missed his mother most of all. Another terrible, disloyal thought, but a true one. He didn’t get a lot of time with women in his work, and even less outside of it, so it was rare for anyone to remind him of his mother. She hadn’t taken any shit, but she wasn’t afraid to be soft with him either.

The night before the accident, Scott hadn’t been able to sleep. He’d come to the living room where his mother was still watching TV, and climbed up to lie with her. His father had been in the other room, so there was no one to grouse about Scott being held like a baby. His mother had smoothed her hands through his hair again and again until Scott’s eyes were blurry with sleep, and she tucked him back into bed. He’d held on to that memory all of those years in boarding school, the reminder that he’d been loved.

There was the usual flush of adrenaline in Scott’s blood at the idea of coming out to anyone, but the game took care of most of it. By the time he parked down the street from Kip’s building, his muscles were pleasantly heavy. They’d beaten New Jersey, thank God. One less indignity to suffer. Scott pulled his cap low over his eyebrows and jogged up the stairs.

Kip had thought his dad would get a kick out of the tickets being left in his own name rather than Kip’s, so Scott had dutifully given George’s name to the assistant in charge of those things. George still had on his Admirals jersey when Scott arrived. He hugged Scott right away, a tight squeeze around the middle, and patted his cheek softly.

“I’ll get you boys some beers,” he said. The kitchen was barely two steps from the living room, but George kept his back to them for a minute, obviously giving them what privacy he could.

Scott took the opportunity to kiss Kip, light and gentle, and let himself be led to the sofa.

There was plenty to talk about from the game, and they all kept to that safe territory for as long as they could. George obviously knew hockey well, but he didn’t share any criticisms of Scott or the team, even though there had been plenty of errors that meant they’d barely pulled off the win.

Scott found himself relaxing more than he’d thought possible. He’d almost fully let his guard down when George spoke.

“I think it’s got to be really hard, what you have to do.” His voice was quiet, but his gaze was steady on Scott. “I know the world isn’t accepting for you.”

“Dad,” Kip broke in, but Scott shook his head.

“It’s not, but I know I’m not… I’m not a victim. I could be braver.”

“You signed up to play hockey. Not to change the whole world,” George said kindly.

Scott swallowed hard. They were all the things he’d told himself over and over. Excuses he’d made for himself. Hearing them like this, in a gentle, understanding voice, was just too much.

“Excuse me.” Scott stood abruptly and went into the bathroom. He splashed water on his face, too upset to worry about his shirt getting wet. He tried to focus on breathing, but he could hear Kip’s voice raised, which made things worse. They shouldn’t be fighting about him.

He couldn’t suppress the tears that welled up, or the sob that escaped from his throat. A knock came at the door, and Kip called his name. Scott hastily grabbed the hand towel to try to mop up the worst of the splashed water, but he was a mess. He sheepishly opened the door to let Kip slip inside.

There was hardly enough room for them both to fit, which meant Kip was pressed up against Scott’s front. That made it easy to put his arms around him, but it brought the flood of tears back to the surface.

Kip held him while he cried, hand gentle at the back of his neck. He whispered gentle things, loving things, and Scott was never going to leave this bathroom at this rate.He finally got hold of himself, forcing his sobs to turn to breaths.

“Is he always like that?” Scott whispered, aware that George could probably still hear him. “So kind?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Kip whispered back.

Scott wiped his eyes. “That’s… wow.” He turned to look in the mirror. He was a wreck, swollen eyes and blotchy pink everywhere.

“You look good,” Kip offered, and Scott couldn’t help but laugh.

“I love you,” he said, no longer whispering.

“I love you too. Come on, he’s going to get worried.” Kip took his hand as they walked out of the bathroom.

“I’m really sorry,” Scott said as he sat heavily onto the couch.

“Nothing to be sorry about.” George’s eyes were soft. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I lost my parents when I was young,” Scott began, and George nodded knowingly. Of course, if he was a fan, he’d know that. “I’m just really glad Kip has you.”

“He has both of us, now. It’s good.” That threatened to bring the tears again, and Scott clung to Kip’s hand instead.

Thankfully, there was food they could eat, and another beer, and a lack of any more serious talk that let Scott breathe.

That only lasted until the meal was over, and George fixed Scott with another look. Scott couldn’t help but sit up, his back straight.

“Like I said, I wish the world was different for the both of you boys. Kip is my son and I never wanted him to have to hide who he was.”

“I’m really working on that.” Scott reached for Kip’s hand. “Hockey has always come first because it’s been all I had. I’m working to change that, because Kip means the world to me.”

“That’s good, then. I don’t like seeing my boy cry.”

“Dad,” Kip jumped in again, and Scott let him take over. It wasn’t long before it was time to get their coats, and another hug for each of them. Scott was the one to end the hug first. If he hadn’t, he wondered if George would have let go at all.

—

Shawn and Maria were next on Kip’s list, and he’d planned on having them over to the apartment too.

The Admirals lost to Boston, which sucked, especially because Scott knew that Kip and his friends had been watching the entire time from Scott’s own couch. It was his own fault, since he was still afraid to go out in public with Kip. He ignored Rozanov’s taunts as the teams left the ice. He took his shower and bucked himself up. It was time to quit being a baby, Hunter.

I hope they still want to meet me after that shitshow. He figured he’d offer all of them an out, at least.

They were mostly focused on the snacks, Kip sent back, which made Scott laugh despite himself. It’s okay if you want to meet them another time, though.

That was the coward’s way out, so no. Today is good, but I’ll be a while. Have to do press etc. It was a fitting punishment for a performance that even his banana socks couldn’t save.

We’ll be here. Love you. Scott felt warmth overriding his recrimination, reading that. It was still new, being loved. He didn’t want to do anything to lose that.

I love you too. Kip was worth all of it.

Scott felt faintly ridiculous when he shook hands with Shawn and Maria. He was back in his pre-game suit because he hadn’t thought ahead enough to bring another option.

Kip pulled him in for a hug and kiss, and that helped, though their audience was awfully loud about it. Their oohs and exclamations were much friendlier than the arena crowd had been today, at least. Kip chastised his friends quickly and took Scott’s hand so they could sit down together.

Scott wished that these meetings weren’t after his games, but it’s not as though he had a lot of days off. Between home games and travel, he had to take what he could get. Still, he was fighting to keep his eyes open, trying to nod politely at Shawn’s story about catering a political event. Shawn and Maria were both funny, which helped to keep him awake, but it was a losing battle.

Kip rescued him by sweeping them out the door shortly after, and Scott had to kiss him for that.

“Sorry,” he mumbled into Kip’s mouth, and pressed his head further into Kip’s hands.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s late.” Kip held out his hands to help Scott off the couch. He kissed Scott’s neck as he took off his tie.

“They’ll be discreet.” Scott did his best to make it sound like a statement instead of a question.

“They will. I promise. I trust them. And that’s everyone I wanted you to meet.” Kip led Scott over to the bed. “Elena, dad, Shawn and Maria. That’s enough. As long as all of them know about us, I feel good about it.”

“There’s still one thing I want to do.” Scott smiled at the surprised look on Kip’s face.

–

The Kingfisher was a decent looking place on the inside. Scott and Kip settled into a booth that Kip promised was the best one. The bartender came over to check in on them.

“Scott, this is Kyle,” Kip said, and Scott raised his hand in an awkward little wave.

“Uh, yeah, we’ve met, actually,” Scott said, keeping eye contact with Kyle, who looked surprised, and Scott would like to think a little impressed. “Kyle helped me out a while back.”

Kyle didn’t stay while Scott told Kip the story, but he brought Scott a fancy cocktail he hadn’t ordered, so Scott figured they were good.

“I know you’re working, but can you join us for a minute?” Scott squeezed Kip’s hand under the table while Kyle slid into the booth across from them. “I should say thank you.”

“Should you?” The words were sassy, but Kyle’s smile was warm.

“I don’t know where I’d be if it hadn’t been for that night. So thank you. You helped me out of a really rough situation, just by being there.”

“He’s so sincere,” Kyle said to Kip, who nodded.

“Pretty much always,” Kip confirmed.

Scott laughed. “I know I’m ridiculous.”

“Who’s ridiculous?” Shawn pushed his way into the booth next to Kyle.

“Scott’s saying heartfelt things,” Kip leaned in to say, like it was a secret.

“Oh god, again, Scott? Girl, we need to get you some irony training.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to get it here,” Scott said. He was used to getting chirped on and off the ice, and he knew on some level it meant being included, so he couldn’t get too upset about it.

Maria joined them next, then Elena, until their group spilled out of the booth and into chairs that threatened to block the aisle, and Scott could mostly sit back and listen.

“Hey, there you are,” Carter said, grabbing a chair to join the fray. Scott introduced him around, laughing at Carter’s enthusiasm in meeting Kip in particular. Scott wasn’t the only one with sincerity to spare. Scott grinned at Kip, who darted in for a quick kiss.

Scott returned the kiss, realizing that he wasn’t tense at all. They were in public, at a gay bar, and he’d just kissed his boyfriend where everyone could see. It felt like an accomplishment, but more than that, it felt normal.

“I see what you like about that place,” Scott said once they were home. He had his head in Kip’s lap, just resting there.

“Yeah, it’s fun, right?” Kip rubbed Scott’s earlobe between his thumb and forefinger. “All my friends are there.”

“It’s great.” Scott turned toward Kip’s belly with intent, and lifted his shirt to kiss down below his navel. “I think I’m done being afraid, you know?”

Kip arched into the touch. “Done?”

“I’m not going to out myself to the press or anything. No one needs that. But maybe we can just exist, and be us, and see how that feels. No more hiding. No more running away.”

“That sounds nice.” Kip’s voice was soft.

“And in a few years, who knows?” Scott continued. “Maybe something will change.” Speech made, he busied himself with Kip’s zipper. He could have this, and he could have hockey. They would figure out the rest as they went.